With the revocation of the Negros Island Region (NIR), the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental are back to Regions 6 and 7, respectively.
The labor and employment field office of Negros Oriental (Nofo) constituting the City of Dumaguete is reunited with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 7, while the Bacolod City Field Office of Negros Occidental is back to DOLE Regional Office No. 6.
Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga, who was appointed regional director of the NIR for more or less than five months, turned over the ceremonial keys of responsibility on October 9 to Regional Director Johnson G. Cañete of DOLE Region 6 and Officer in Charge (OIC)-Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao of DOLE Region 7.
The turnover ceremonies at the Provincial Hall of the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City gathered Regional officials, staff and personnel of the three involved regions, as well as the DOLE 6’s Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) member-agencies.
The event officially marked the start of the field offices of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental operating and implementing programs and services under the banners of their respective mother regional offices.
Ticao assured everyone witnessing the turnover ceremony that the DOLE Regional 7 will be extending support to the Nofo with the same vigor and intensity as when it was still attached to Region 7 before the creation of NIR.
“With all sincerity, we accept the responsibility that goes with the reunion of the Negros Oriental Field Office with the DOLE Regional Office 7. To RD Sarcauga, rest assured that we will definitely continue and finish what you have started with NIR,” the DOLE 7 head said in his acceptance speech.
He also thanked Cañete for spearheading the turnover activity, giving the official end of NIR profound meaning to all individuals, staff and personnel deeply involved in its interesting, yet short-lived existence.
Ticao immediately met the staff of NOFO to discuss priorities as well as matters that have to be given more attention, especially that the calendar year is about to end.
Also present during the ceremony was Director Jason Balais, who used to be the appointed OIC-Assistant Regional Director of the now defunct NIR.
The NIR was by Executive Order No. 183, Series of 2015, and was revoked by Executive Order No. 38 dated August 2017.